Sanjou Chiji sped forward, deliberately weaving into the most crowded areas.
He felt he had a good grasp of the rules.
The native pursuers had a significant limitation: even in executing nine people, there were restrictions, let alone killing civilians.
Therefore, this was something he could exploit.
However, relying solely on the crowd made it difficult to escape. The moment the crowd became agitated, Sanjou Chiji would be exposed. Furthermore, his current attire was conspicuous; the people here didn't dress like him.
Thus, Sanjou Chiji hadn't devised a foolproof escape method yet, only deciding to run first.
While contemplating, Sanjou Chiji swiftly moved through the crowd and entered an elevator.
Some hunters spotted Sanjou Chiji, but as he predicted, they didn't act. There were other people in the elevator, and they couldn't shoot him directly.
Trapping Sanjou Chiji in the elevator wouldn't work either, as it would mean all the other passengers would fall into his hands and be taken hostage.
"Confirm the floor, evacuate the crowd as much as possible, then surround and capture him."
One hunter said quickly. It was uncertain if it would be effective, as the elevator's ascent speed made evacuating people incredibly difficult.
Meanwhile...
Sanjou Chiji enjoyed a brief respite, taking a deep breath.
But at that moment...
"Hey!"
A voice suddenly rang out behind Sanjou Chiji, followed by a hand landing on his shoulder.
Sanjou Chiji instinctively turned around, and then...
*Bang!*
The hand pressed down on Sanjou Chiji's head, slamming him against the elevator wall.
After the impact, a section of the elevator instantly caved in.
Sanjou Chiji reacted, immediately attempting to draw his sword. He had only just gripped the hilt and pulled it out a fraction when Byakuya suddenly lifted his foot, kicking the sword away.
Sanjou Chiji gritted his teeth and quickly formed hand seals.
"Ninjutsu, Substitution Jutsu!"
With a *bang*, a cloud of white smoke appeared around Sanjou Chiji. Byakuya then found himself holding a log.
"Don't move!" Sanjou Chiji's voice sounded from behind Byakuya. "Or I'll kill her!"
Sanjou Chiji grabbed a middle-aged woman in the corner of the elevator, using her as a shield, even deliberately ducking his head to avoid exposing himself.
However...
In Byakuya's hand, the Steel Slime writhed rapidly, and then the Thunder Fang Beast was condensed.
*Swoosh!*
Byakuya thrust forward.
The Thunder Fang Beast pierced the woman's abdomen and also struck Sanjou Chiji's waist.
Sanjou Chiji's eyes widened. Looking at Byakuya, he asked in astonishment, "You?"
"My name is Byakuya," Byakuya replied. "You can also call me Number Eight."
Using civilians to threaten hunters was permissible, but to threaten Byakuya?
What did the native's life or death have to do with Byakuya?
*Ding!*
Just then, the elevator doors opened.
Sanjou Chiji immediately pushed the woman away and dashed out of the elevator.
Two hunters were waiting in ambush. The moment they saw Sanjou Chiji, they immediately raised their guns to fire.
But Sanjou Chiji's sword was fast!
Incredibly fast!
A flash of silver light, and the energy guns in the hands of the two hunters were shattered. Then, with a flick of Sanjou Chiji's wrist, the blade swept across their throats.
The eyes of the two hunters widened instantly, their bodies slowly falling to the ground.
However, Sanjou Chiji also showed signs of pain. He looked down at his waist, where blood was continuously seeping out, staining his clothes.
Sanjou Chiji ran forward quickly, taking out a red bean bun to stuff into his mouth.
The red bean bun was undoubtedly no ordinary bun, but a healing item. Yet, Sanjou Chiji couldn't get it into his mouth.
*Zzzzzlap!*
A crackling sound of electricity filled the air.
A surge of current from behind struck the back of Sanjou Chiji's hand. The red bean bun fell to the ground, rolling aside.
Out of the electric current, Byakuya stepped forward, once again standing before Sanjou Chiji.
"Dragon Soaring Slash, Decapitation!"
Without a word, Sanjou Chiji lunged forward, his long sword slashing down at Byakuya.
Byakuya made no move to dodge, allowing the long sword to land on his neck.
Sanjou Chiji couldn't help but be stunned. He hit so easily?
Was this guy not strong?
All show and no substance?
As Sanjou Chiji mused, Byakuya's neck was severed. But just as his head separated from his body, electricity suddenly surged, reattaching the severed head to his neck.
*Swoosh!*
Byakuya swung his sword, slicing across Sanjou Chiji's chest.
Accompanied by Sanjou Chiji's scream, a horrifying wound appeared, and a large amount of blood splattered from his chest.
Sanjou Chiji retreated continuously, looking at Byakuya in disbelief. Though shocked, he quickly realized what was happening.
Physical attacks were ineffective against Byakuya!
Ignoring the pain from his wound, Sanjou Chiji quickly leaped backward and formed hand seals: "Water Style, Mist Clone Jutsu!"
Sanjou Chiji quickly opened his mouth, spitting out a large amount of mist that rapidly dispersed, instantly obscuring a wide area.
"Trying to escape?"
Byakuya grinned and reached out.
Byakuya was unfazed. He had already set up an electrical field, so even with his vision obscured, it meant little to him. Byakuya could still easily pinpoint Sanjou Chiji's location.
*Zzzzzap!*
As Byakuya extended a finger forward, a large amount of electricity surged from his fingertip.
The next moment, the current shot forward, piercing into the mist.
Sanjou Chiji, about to flee, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his calf and stumbled to the ground.
Looking down, he saw a bloody hole in his calf. The lightning strike, like an arrow, had easily pierced it.
Sanjou Chiji gritted his teeth and got up, only to find Byakuya walking towards him. He quickly formed hand seals again.
"Water Style, Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
Sanjou Chiji roared. The moisture in the surrounding air was drawn out, quickly forming into a water dragon that charged towards Byakuya.
"This move is good!" Byakuya remarked, looking up. "Too bad there's no water here. Relying solely on moisture from the air is a bit lacking!"
As Byakuya spoke, he slightly tilted his body forward, adopting a sword-drawing stance.
The next moment...
A flash of sword light!
The incoming water dragon instantly disintegrated into a large volume of water that splashed onto the ground.
Sanjou Chiji remained seated on the ground, unable to rise.
On Sanjou Chiji's neck, a blood line slowly appeared.
Then...
His head suddenly fell from his neck.
Just as Sanjou Chiji had intended to do to Byakuya earlier.
...